Airplane terminal



Oct. 18, 1938. s. H. SEIDMAN 2,133,721

AIRPLANE TERMINAL Filed Aug. 14, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .Oct. 18, 1938.s. H; SEIDMAN AIRPLANE TERMINAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 14, 1935 WMan 2 R m. MN

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Mn N? on 2 x E $5 8 wv llllhl Q a mu Mm 0N u 6,41% i dm YINVENTORPatented Oct. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 16 Claims.

This invention relates to airplane terminals and more particularly toaquatic airplane terminals suitable for harbor, lake or river fronts.

A proper airplane terminal should have the following characteristics forbest results:

Level landing space.

Suitable resistance to bring a plane to astop where desired.

Landing and take off facilities in a wide range of directions.

Proximity to the heart of a city.

Speedy and safe handling of passengers, load and planes.

Protection against inclement weather.

Positiveness and consistency of operation under rigid schedules.

Low cost of terminal and upkeep.

Due to the level surface of water, the quietude of shelteredwaterfronts, proximity of large cities 20 to waterfronts, and thegradualadoption of pontoon landing gear on planes, aquatic airplaneterminls of proper design should prove distinctly advantageous.

Accordingly, among the objects of this invention are- To provide a safeterminal for one or more planes-the equivalent to a ferry or railroadterminal, at the foot of a city street, so that passengers, mail andbaggage may he landed safely and easily.

While large planes may be provided for, the immediate aim is to providespeedy facilities between suburban land airports, ocean liners at sea,suburban towns or sightseeing service.

To provide efficient means necessary to dock taxiing planes for easydischarge and reception of load, such means including elevation of theplanes out of the water to prevent their unsteadiness and turning samearound preparatory to resumption of flight.

To provide a floating turntable that is always level and which willrequire minimum power and servicing.

To provide the docking means with the necessary resistance for stoppingthe plane and with the minimum resistance preparatory to resumption offlight.

To provide a wide range of directions for receiving or discharging theplanes.

Provision for self propulsion of the floating dock about its verticalaxis as a pivot on a basis of minimum friction.

'Provision of a gang plank and ramp between the plane and the citystreet so that passengers will be dry underfoot as well as overhead inall weather conditions.

Provision of remote automatic interlocking control of the turntablerotation, gang plank positioning relative to the airplane door andturntable dropping for launching the plane-all with maximum safety.

To provide every factor of safety and low cost by simple and positivemechanical and electrical arrangements.

These and other objects are attained by an exemplary constructiondescribed in the specification and illustrated in the drawings forming apart thereof, which is intended merely to show one of the variousembodiments of means for attaining the objects of the invention.

In the drawings in which like symbols refer to like or similar parts,-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a terminal for handling and dispatchingplanes, parts being cut away for clarity of illustration.

Fig. 2 is an elevation partly in section, with the gang plank car inposition for loading a plane.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic showing of the electric circuit of the terminalcontrols.

Fig. 4 is a detail of control mechanism.

The terminal in its preferred simple form consists of a turntable I0adapted to receive airplane 9 and to rotate about and move verticallyalong a pivot II which is at the apex of the triangle formed by pontoonfloat I2 of preferred construction; a ramp l3 hinged to the float 12 atone end and to the moorage M such as a pier or bulkhead, at the otherend, and a terminal house In the preferred construction, the turntableID has a level circular platform ll surrounded by an annular inclinedconical portion l8 that acts as a ramp for the gradual elevation of theairplane from the water. The platform "is supported on a circular hulll9 and struts 20 from hull l9 aid in supporting the overhanging ramp 18which is preferably of wood that in itself is adapted to float in waterand which is preferable for landing of the planes.

The turntable I0 is restrained against lateral displacement by thehollow drum pivot I I fixedly mounted on the float l2. The preferredconnection between the turntable ill and drum II is a hearing 2|, of theroller type and extending its vertical guides 25 along which the rollers26 with their housing 21 and wall 28, on hull l9 are adapted to moveduring adjustment of the extent of submersion of the turntable I 0.Suitable packing 28 prevents seepage of water past the bearing 2 I. Thuswith the circular hull 19 floating in water and with the roller bearingpivot,

friction is a minimum; consequently power for a terminal of minimumsize.

rotating the turntable I0 is a minimum. Similarly, friction betweenturntable l0 and drum II is a minimum so that any force tending todepress or elevate any portion of the turntable ill will causecorresponding movement of the entire turntable. Tilting of turntableand/or distortion due to eccentric load such as wave action or landingof a plane is thereby prevented since the entire turntable is renderedmovable vertically by the application of force at any portion thereof.

Rotation of the turntable is preferably accomplished by propellers 29 atthe periphery of hull l9 and driven by electric motor 30 throughsuitable gearing 3l. Two propellers 29 on opposite sides of housing 32are preferred with the motor '30 reversible in order that propellingaction is equal in either direction of rotation.

The motor 30 is in a sealed compartment 33 having a water tight door 34in platform l1.

Adjustment of the turntable submersion is accomplished by varying thecontent of water in the hull l9. To that end it is preferred to utilizea gear pump 35 in water tight compartment 36 accessible through door 34,having a pipe 31 between pump 35 and the water outside the hull l9. Whenthe electrically driven pump 35 is driven in one direction, water willbe transferred into the hull l9 to cause deeper submersion of turntableI ll; while reversal of pump operation will cause the water in the hullto be pumped out with the result that platform l1 of turntable It willrise above the water level.

The leads for the propeller motor and the pump motor extend preferablyin rigid conduit 40 through the float l2 and up through drum il past thesealing flange 4| of bearing 2| into compartment 42 in which the leadsare in flexible, water proof sheathing 43; thence in rigid conduits44,-45 under platform i1 to compartments 33 and 36 respectively and tothe respective motors therein.

The float l2 should be a water tight structurally. rigid unit capable ofsupporting not only one end of ramp l3 by means of hinge 41, but alsothe turntable it against the possibility that the hull I9 for any reasonmay become filled with water and sink. As a safety measure, therefore,to permit repairs under such contingency, the float. i2 is also adaptedto be adjustable with regard to its submersion by means of gear pump 46.Thus, should the turntable l0 become overloaded or pump 35 fail to pumpwater out of hull, the water within the float l2 may be pumped out toraise the turntable I 0 to the elevation desired.

The ramp i3 is preferably unobstructed, so that planes of large wingspan may be handled with Hinge 4'! on float l2 directly supports thefree end of ramp l3 and maintains this end of the ramp a fixed elevationabove water level regardless of tidal changes. The inshore end of rampI3 is either connected to the moorage l4 by hinge 48 at the floor levelof the bulkhead or pier constituting the moorage with a hinged plate 49adapted to span the gap formed by hinge 48 as shown, or it may rest onthe moorage flooring and be secured against lateral displacement bymeans of chains or ropes.

The terminal house I! is shown in the drawings mounted at the inshoreend of the ramp l3, and provides a waiting room 50 forl passengers andguests, an office Ii, ticket and dispatchers booths 52, control room 53for the handling of planes and load and a gang plank or car 54.

The gang plank is the equivalent, of a gang plank for ships, andprovides the direct passageway to a plane on the turntable it, so thatpassengers will be dry under foot and make their safety.

In its simplest form the gang plank may be i 5 similar to the usual shipgang plank with its front portion movable manually onto and ofLtheturntable In.

In the preferred construction, however, it assumes the form of a car 54pivotally mounted on a truck 55 driven by motor 56 at the inshore endand on truck 51, provided with suitable steering and control mechanism,at the opposite end. To permit smooth transfer of the truck 51 betweenramp l3 and turntable Ill which would usually be at differentelevations, runway guides 58 are provided at each side of truck 51,which is adapted to move on rollers 59 at the edge of ramp l3, duringthe period that the wheels of truck 51 are out of contact with eitherthe ramp or turntable. Movement of the car 54 on ramp i3 is preferablyguided on track 50, and member 6i carries power take-off contactors 62to power rail 63 beneath a rail 53', slotted, with their leads to thecar 54. The pivotal mounting of the car 54 on its trucks however,permits its positioning at any angle to the track 50 suitable for accessto the plane entrance whose position on the turntable is not always thesame.

It is furthermore preferred that the car platform over truck 51 beadapted for adjustment to proper elevation by means of a jack or hoist64 on truck 51, so that this end of the car platform corresponds to theheight of the plane entrance. A roof 65 over the car 54 is also providedto shelter passengers in inclement weather during their transfer betweenthe plane and the terminal house l5.

The preferred means for controlling the terminal facilities to achievemost effective, safest and lowest cost operation is as follows:

All power for operation and lighting is obtained from electric powermains 56 suitably connected at the inshore end of the ramp l3 and fed tothe main switch 61 on switchboard 68 in the control room 53. Theessential elements of the important circuits in which fuses, meters,etc. would of course be included but are here not specificallyindicated, are the lighting circuit connected through switch 69 and thepower circuits.

The power circuits comprise the propeller motor circuit, the turntablepump circuit, the pontoon float pump circuit and the car motors circuit.The propeller motor circuit includes switch 10, motor 30 and controller1| for operating motor 30 in either direction. The turntable pumpcircuit includes switch 12, pump motor 35, controller 13 for-operatingthe gear pump motor in either direction and automatic cut-off 14described later and which is adapted to open the pump circuit should theoperator not have done so before the water in the hull i9 reaches eitherthe predetermined low or high levels. Controllers 1| and 13 areconnected through a common switch connection 15 which is closed onlywhile the car 54 is in the terminal house l5, so that rotating oradjusting the elevation of the turntable is rendered impossible at anyother position of the car 54.

Cut-01f switch 14 is provided in the pump circuit for automaticallycutting ofi the operation of the pump 35 in one direction yet permit itsreversal should the predetermined maximum or minimum amount of water inthe hull l9 be reached. The cut-off switch 14 of the preferredconstruction shown consists essentially of a float 18 adapted to floatin the water in hull l9, the float arm 19 pivoted preferably in the wallseparating compartment 36 from the water compartment of hull I9, then incompartment 36, the switch enclosure 14 having a sliding member 82carrying contactors 83, 84 and insulators 85, 86 and 81; and contactterminals 88, and 89. Through the normal range of water level variationwithin the hull, both contactors 83 and 84 are adapted to maintain thecircuits between their respective terminals 88 and 89 closed. However,when the fioat 18 reaches a predetermined high level as a result of thecontinued action of pump 35, member 82 will move down to the point whereinsulator 85 will replace contactor 83 between terminals -88, causingautomatio stoppage of the pump by virtue of the resulting break in thecircuit. Contactor 84 will nevertheless still remain between terminals89, permitting the operator in the control room to switch in forreversal of gear pump operation at his discretion. Conversely, if thefloat 18 reaches a predetermined low water level, contactor 84 will bereplaced by insulator 85 between terminals 89,'and cause stoppage of thepump. Thus, extent of submersion of the" turntable is under control ofthe operator in control room 53 between predetermined limits at whichautomatic out off takes place.

Control of rotation of the turntable is also from the control room 53 bymeans of controller H which. is Preferably of the conventional drum typewith the off position of the control lever 92 in the center; levermovement to the left being for counterclockwise rotation of theturntable I! and lever movement to the right for clockwise rotation. Toinsure alternation of the direction of rotation of the turntable so asto avoid undue twist in the leads to the motors, a reverse lock 93 isprovided for lever 92. The exemplary reverse lock 93 constructionindicated in Fig. 4 comprises bars 95, 95' on pivots 94, 94frespectively, one end of each bar linked to the other by link 95 andstop members 91, 91' on each pivot,

all suitably arranged substantially as shown with respect to controllever 92. The essentials of the arrangement are that (1)when lever 92moves clockwise, it is adapted to rotate bar 95 about its pivot 94causing link 99 to push bar 95 over so that member 91' is outside thescope of the lever movement, while member 9! is rotated into operativeposition; .(2)-When lever 92 is returning to current off position in thecenter of the drum controller 1 I, it is adapted to resiliently deflectthe stop member 91 until it passes by it; (3)-the end of the member 97then acts as a stop for the lever should the operator again attemptrotation in the clockwise direction, thereby forcing the lever, hencethe turntable to be rotated in the opposite direction instead. Theaction with respect to reverse lock 93 is similar in thecounterclockwise direction to force rotation of turntable ill in theopposite direction, stop member 91 being brought into lever stopposition and member 91 out-of theway of lever 92.

The pontoon float pump circuit includes preferably double throw switch16 with its starter controller, adapted to operate the pump motor 46 ineither direction so that the pontoon l2 may be raised or lowered to thedesired elevation by varying the water therein.

The car motor circuits include switch 90, con-- trollers 9!, 9|, drivingmotor 56 and hoist motor 64, power takeoif 62 and power rail 63. At theinshore end of the car 54 is also the bridging contactor 98 which isadapted to close the connection 15 for the circuits for propellers andpump on turntable l9.

In summary of operation:

While the inshore end of the ramp is level with the bulkhead, angularityof the ramp varies inversely as the tide rises or falls, the range ofvariation for a given tide range being determined by the length of theramp between pivots.

Of course, the amount of water in the pontoon l2 will also affect theangularity of the ramp I3, but the amount is fixed for the desired rangeof variation in submersion of the turntable l9.

Platform I1 is preferably somewhat above water level when the plane isawaited, the water content in the hull l9 being relatively low, and thecircular, exposed turntable ramp l8 ofiers a wide range of approach forthe oncoming plane which should be ample for all practical purposes.

As the plane rides up the ramp l8 and onto the platform l1, its addedWeight requires greater water displacement and the turntable submergesfurther, so that-platform l! is either still above, at or even somewhatbelow water level as found desirable. In the last instance only part ofthe plane weight is taken by the turntable.

The operator in the control room, having applied switch Hl, thenactuates controller H in the direction permitted by reverse lock 93.This closes the circuit including power main 66, switches 61 and 10,controller H, switch connection 15, closed by contactor 98, and motor30. Thereupon, propellers 29 are actuated and effect rotation of theturntable H) to the end that the plane propellers face away fromterminal house l5 and the plane entrance is on the side toward the rampl3.

The control operator then opens the propeller motor circuit and closesthe switch 90 to permit operation of car 54. The car operates to takepassengers and load to the plane and from the plane thru actuation ofmotor 56 for driving the car and hoist 64 for adjusting the car platformto the height of the plane entrance, the power for same coming of coursethrough the power rails 63 and contactors 62. As soon as the car 54 hadleft its berth in house l5, connector 98 moves away from contactors l5and causes a break in the turntable propeller and pump motor crcu tswhich prevents their operation.

Both truck wheels 55 and 51 travel on track 60 until truck 51 runs offthe ramp l3. Thereupon the load of the front portion of the car is takenby rollers 59 on which the runways 58 travel unt l truck 51 wheelscontact the platform l1, movement of car 54 between ramp I3 andturntable It! being thus efiected without undue shock,

Upon completion of load transfers between the plane and terminal, car 54is run back to its berth, so that bridging member 98 closes connections15. If the plane is facing in the proper direction for leaving and theplatform I! does not offer undue resistance to its launching, the planeleaves without further aid. Otherwise, the control operator closes thehull pump circuit and operates controller 18 say clockwise for pumpingmore water into hull it until the turntablegsgsufliciently submerged tofloat the plane. The pump motor is then reversed by actuation ofcontroller I3 in the counter direction until platform I! is again at thedesired level above the water. If the safety float switch '14 'is set atsuch desired level or if not set at a higher lever and the operatorfails to shut the power off at the desired level, float switch 14 willshut oil the pump as previously described.

It will thus be seen that an efllcient, safe and complete aquaticairplane terminal is invented and fully described, which meets therequirements of practical use and attains the objects of the invention.

It should be noted incidentally that in the exemplary constructiondescribed, the house terminal extends the full width of the ramp and aminimum distance outshore, and the entire ramp outshore of the housealso the turntable are free of any obstruction. The advantage in sucharrangement is that a terminal of moderate size can 'accommodate planesof a wide range of wing spans, the maximum wing span being substantiallytwice the distance from terminal house I 5 to the center of theturntable l0.

Of course various changes can be made in the above construction withoutviolating the spirit of the invention and many different embodiments ofthe invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof. Itis thereforeintended that all matter contained in the drawings anddescription be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense,except as defined in the appended claims.

Accordingly what is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a waterfront terminal for airplanes, in combination, a partiallysubmerged platform at one end of said terminal, means for adjusting theelevation of said platform whereby landing and launching of saidairplanes is effected and means for rotating said platform about an axistherethrough to reverse the direction faced by said planes away fromsaid terminal after landing on said platform.

2. In a marine base for planes, in combination, a float having asubmerged platform adapted for a seaplane to taxi on to same, means forvarying the submergence of said platform to carry any portion of theweight of said plane and means for rotating said submerged platformabout its axis to face said plane away from said base after landing onsaid platform.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination, a circular hulladapted to float, a platform thereon, a guiding member coaxial with saidhull and platform, a propulsion device for rotating said hull andplatform about said guiding member and means on said hull for varyingits displacement in water.

4. The combination of a float, means for varying the floatability ofsaid float, supporting means for retaining said float in predeterminedrelation to the water level when the floatability of said float isnullified, a guiding member between said float and said supporting meansand means for rotating said float about said guiding member.

5. The combination with a waterfront terminal for seaplanes of afloating platform adapted to support said planes, means for retainingsaid said retaining means and for moving said platform axially alongsaid retaining means for controlling said seaplanes.

6. In a device of the class described, in combination, a platform, acircular hull adapted to float in water and to support said platform,propollers at the periphery of said hull, electrical means within saidhull for driving said propellers, and means remote from said hull foractuating said electrical means.

7. In an'aquatic airplane terminal, in combination, a float adapted tosupport airplane load, means for varying the buoyancy thereof, a pontoonadapted to support said float when the buoyancy thereof is nullified andmeans for varying the buoyancy of said pontoon and a guidingmember forretaining said pontoon and float in vertically and pivotally movablerelation to each other.

8. In combination with a moorage for an airplane terminal, a floatadapted to support airplane load, means for operatively retaining saidfloat in spaced relation to said moorage, means for moving said floatalong said retaining means for reception and discharge of floatingairplanes and propulsion means for rotating said float about saidretaining means as a pivot to change the direction faced by said planesafter landing on float.

9. In a device of the class described, in combination, a circularturntable, adapted to float, an inclined approach all the way around theperiphery of said turntable whereby airplanes can land on said turntablefrom a plurality of directions while said turntable is at standstill andmeans for rotating said turntable about the center thereof whereby thedirection faced by said airplanes after landing is changed.

10. The combination of a turntable, means for rotating same, controlmeans for actuating said rotating means and means for preventingconsecutive operations of said turntable in the same direction.

11. In a terminal for airplanes, in combination, a circular platformadapted to support airplanes, a float for supporting said platform inwater, an inclined approach all around the periphery of said platform,whereby taxiing airplanes may land from a wide range of directions andmeans connected to said float at the pivotal center of said platform forretaining same in pivotally movable form in water, a curved rampfollowing the contour of said platform, whereby airplanes may land onsaid platform from a wide range of directions, a retaining member forsaid float at the vertical axis of said platform and means for movingsaid platform axially along said retaining member for alternatelyremoving and restoring floatibility to seaplanes.

13. In a device of the class described, in combination, a platform ofcircular contour, a floating circular hull adapted to keep said platformafloat, a guiding member coaxial with the vertical axis of said hull,and a propulsion device at the periphery of the hull for rotating saidhull and platform about said guiding member as a pivot.

14. An aquatic airplane terminal comprising in combination, a circularplatform, an inclined airplane approach at the periphery of saidplatform,

a circular hull for supporting said platform afloat in water, a pontoonhaving a guiding member for said hull, means for moving said hull alongand about said guiding member, a moorage, and transfer apparatus betweensaid platform and said moorage, whereby a plane may be easily landed onsaid platform, load transferred between said plane and said moorage andsaid plane turned about and launched for flight.

15. In an aquatic airplane terminal including a moorage, in combination,a floating turntable, a ramp between said turntable and said moorage, ahinge connection between said ramp and said moorage, apontoon float, ahinge connection between said ramp and said float, a guiding member onsaid float coaxial with said turntable and means for moving saidturntable relative to said guiding member.

16. In combination with a mooring the elevation whereof is above theabutting water level, a ramp, one end of said ramp movably connected tosaid mooring at said elevation thereof, a float, said float and rampmovably connected for adjustment in predetermined relation to eachother, a superstructure on said ramp and means in said sfluperstructurefor controlling movements of said oat.

SOLOMON H. SEIDMAN.

